Yellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares
Also called Ahi.
How to tell it
Long yellow second dorsal and anal fins that grow with age; yellow lateral stripe.
Often mistaken for
Two fish that get called yellowfin tuna, and what gives each one away.
- Blackfin tuna: Smaller, dusky fins, bronze lateral wash. Tell them apart
- Bigeye tuna: Bigger eye, stockier; hard to call — when in doubt, measure and check. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 27 in curved fork length minimum | 3 per person | Open year-roundAL MRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| ConnecticutFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 27 in curved fork length min | 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length | Open year-roundNOAA HMS Recreational Compliance Guide 2025 · checked | Open |
| DelawareFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 27 in curved fork length min | 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length | Open year-roundNOAA HMS Recreational Compliance Guide 2025 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic)Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 27 in curved fork length min | 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length | Open year-roundNOAA HMS Recreational Compliance Guide 2025 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf)Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 27 in curved fork length min | 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length | Open year-roundNOAA HMS Recreational Compliance Guide 2025 · checked | Open |
| GeorgiaFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 27 in curved fork length min | 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length | Open year-roundNOAA HMS Recreational Compliance Guide 2025 · checked | Open |
| Louisiana | 27 in curved fork length | 3 per person | Open year-roundLDWF 2026 · checked | Open |
| MaineFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 27 in curved fork length min | 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length | Open year-roundNOAA HMS Recreational Compliance Guide 2025 · checked | Open |
| MarylandFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 27 in curved fork length min | 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length | Open year-roundNOAA HMS Recreational Compliance Guide 2025 · checked | Open |
| MassachusettsFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 27 in curved fork length min | 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length | Open year-roundNOAA HMS Recreational Compliance Guide 2025 · checked | Open |
| Mississippi | 27 in curved fork length minimum | 3 per person per day | Open year-roundMS DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
| New HampshireFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 27 in curved fork length min | 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length | Open year-roundNOAA HMS Recreational Compliance Guide 2025 · checked | Open |
| New JerseyFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 27 in curved fork length min | 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length | Open year-roundNOAA HMS Recreational Compliance Guide 2025 · checked | Open |
| New YorkFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 27 in curved fork length min | 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length | Open year-roundNOAA HMS Recreational Compliance Guide 2025 · checked | Open |
| North Carolina | 27" curved FL min | 3 per person per day | Year-roundNC DMF 2026 · checked | Open |
| Rhode IslandFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 27 in curved fork length min | 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length | Open year-roundNOAA HMS Recreational Compliance Guide 2025 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | 27 in curved fork length | 3/day | Open year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| TexasFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 27 in curved fork length min | 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length | Open year-roundNOAA HMS Recreational Compliance Guide 2025 · checked | Open |
| VirginiaFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 27 in curved fork length min | 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length | Open year-roundNOAA HMS Recreational Compliance Guide 2025 · checked | Open |
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 237 lb 1.6 oz | 2025 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Connecticut | 210 lb 7 oz | 1991 · Block Canyon | CT DEEP Saltwater State Record Fish (Harvested) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Florida | 240 lb | 2002 · Key West | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Louisiana | 272.25 lb | 2026 · Gulf of America | LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Maryland | 236.5 lb | 2002 · Washington Canyon | MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Massachusetts | 187 lb 5 oz | 2026 · Hydrographer Canyon | MA DMF Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-09-04 |
| Mississippi | 237 lb 12.8 oz | 2026 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| New Jersey | 290 lb | 1980 · Hudson Canyon | NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04 |
| New York | 248 lb 8 oz | 2002 | NYSDEC Marine Recreational Angler Records · checked 2026-09-04 |
| North Carolina | 237 lb | 1979 · Off Cape Lookout | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| Rhode Island | 265 lb | 1997 · The Dip | RI DEM Saltwater Sportfish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| South Carolina | 241 lb 12 oz | 1979 · Charleston | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 216.2 lb | 1998 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Virginia | 203 lb 12 oz | 1981 · Norfolk Canyon | VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04 |
How anglers catch it
Ballyhoo and skirted lures on the troll at the edges and rips; chunking and poppers when they come up around the boat.
On the table
Excellent raw or seared rare.
In the app
Point the camera at a yellowfin tuna and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about yellowfin tuna
What is the size limit for yellowfin tuna?
It depends on the state. Alabama: 27 in curved fork length minimum; Connecticut: 27 in curved fork length min; Delaware: 27 in curved fork length min; Florida (Atlantic): 27 in curved fork length min; Florida (Gulf): 27 in curved fork length min; Georgia: 27 in curved fork length min; Louisiana: 27 in curved fork length; Maine: 27 in curved fork length min; and more in the table above.
How many yellowfin tuna can you keep?
Alabama: 3 per person; Connecticut: 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length; Delaware: 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length; Florida (Atlantic): 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length; Florida (Gulf): 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length; Georgia: 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length; Louisiana: 3 per person; Maine: 3 per person per day; no more than 3 per person on board regardless of trip length; and more in the table above.
How do you tell yellowfin tuna from blackfin tuna?
Yellowfin Tuna: Long yellow second dorsal and anal fins that grow with age; yellow lateral stripe. Blackfin tuna: smaller, dusky fins, bronze lateral wash.
How do you catch yellowfin tuna?
Ballyhoo and skirted lures on the troll at the edges and rips; chunking and poppers when they come up around the boat. Methods: trolling, drifting, live bait, jigging, kite, casting. Baits: ballyhoo, sardine, goggle-eye, chunk, squid, menhaden. Lures: skirted lure, feather, popper, metal jig, bibbed minnow.
What is the record yellowfin tuna?
290 lb in New Jersey (1980), Hudson Canyon. Other states’ records are in the table.